Many of you will remember one of Cape Town’s most famous surfing events – the Red Bull Big Wave Africa – well, Red Bull have stepped it up yet again and announced Red Bull Jaws.

Pe’ahi, or Jaws as it’s more commonly known, in Hawaii, is arguably the most consistently ridden big wave in the world. It is also arguably one of the largest big waves in the world. Red Bull Big Wave Africa was an awesome event, but this promises to be even more awesome.

Red Bull said in a statement on their website:

Twenty-one intrepid big-wave surfers from around the world have been chosen to take on the menacing Hawaiian reef break known as Jaws for the inaugural Red Bell Jaws, Paddle at Pe’ahi.

“Your natural instinct is panic as this gigantic wave is coming at you,” says Ian Walsh, Pe’ahi’s resident big wave expert.

Walsh spent two years developing Red Bull Jaws. “With what’s happening in the paddling movement within big waves, and Jaws being one of the most progressive big wave spots in the world, it seemed like a pretty good fit.”

Not all of the competitors’ names have been released yet, as they have to first receive and accept their very special invites:

We can however confirm that Grant “Twiggy” Baker will be competing. Hopefully we’ll also see one or two more South African names on the invite list soon too.

Says Competition Director Mike Parsons:

We will be looking for a swell that challenges the upper limits of paddle-in surfing. Over the last five years Jaws has set the bar in the big wave paddle realm. The conditions we’re looking for are a strong northwest swell from 330 degrees with face heights from 30-50 feet with smooth surface conditions. Jaws is unique in that it requires a more Northerly angled swell. When the swell direction is 330 degrees or above Jaws will often be double the size of Waimea due to swell direction.

The event will be run on one ideal day during the period of December 7, 2012, to March 15, 2013. And by ideal, they mean wave face heights of between 30 and 50 feet, with a light offshore breeze to keep the house-sized barrels open.

[Sources: RedBull, TransworldSurf]